Yesterday was an extensive day filled with Michael "singing for his supper," and I accompanied him as his wife. We were picked up around 10 am, which we appreciated, especially since we didn't get back the previous night until after 1 am! Our first stop was a newly established research institute linked to the university and hospital, aimed at supporting both basic and clinical research, featuring dedicated buildings for cancer, neurological/mental health, cardiovascular issues, and more. It’s a lovely complex located on the outskirts of the city. We had lunch there with esteemed professors and staff before proceeding to the hospital, where Michael interacted with a group of psychiatry graduate students under the guidance of our host, Xiandong Tang. Each student presented a brief PowerPoint on their current research, and Michael offered encouragement and constructive criticism to help them enhance their work. By 4:30 pm, it was time for his lecture in front of a packed room primarily filled with psychiatrists and graduate students. Interestingly, the audience consisted mostly of women, with only a few men present. Michael was his usual brilliant self, alert and engaged, while I started to feel the effects of jet lag, but I pushed through! After the lecture, we went to a nearby hotel for a banquet featuring fantastic food and an evening filled with toasts and multiple rounds of the Chinese liquor favored by our host. I managed to have a half a tiny shot, and our host finished off the remaining 4 oz portion to serve. Luckily, it was an early night, and we returned to our hotel around 9:30 pm. The bed felt wonderful, and we had a good night's sleep to prepare for a busy day today, starting with an 8:30 am pickup by our hosts and a visit to Panda Park, where I am excited to see the baby pandas. It seems to be both a park and a panda breeding facility. The food here has been outstanding and delightfully spicy — although there were a few dishes that made us pause, like steamed pigeons served with severed body parts, including the head, and sea cucumbers, which everyone apparently enjoyed. Overall, the cuisine has been excellent, filled with spicy vegetables that I wish Mirabella could replicate! I’ll share a few photos of our culinary experiences, along with a picture of our impressive suite at the Jin Jiang Hotel and a view from our windows overlooking the river and city.
15.03.2025 - 15.03.2025
04.03.2025 - 04.03.2025 22°C
I can't recall when I first learned about the Canton Fair, but I finally had the chance to attend as a "buyer." I had to bend the truth a bit and claim I was shopping for electronics to bring back to Canada. It's an enormous trade event that takes place three times a year in Guangzhou. When I attended, it was the electronics segment. I went on another river cruise and then returned to the hostel. A German guy generously shared his Lithuanian vodka with me, and I ended up a little intoxicated. When I returned to the room, I caused quite a stir upon seeing all the clutter on the table that I wanted to discuss with them. I scattered their belongings throughout the room, and they called the police. I stayed up all night and left for home in the morning. I received a refund for that terrible hostel (Lazy Gaga hostel; avoid it, as it is filled with homeless individuals rather than backpackers).
On Tuesday morning, June 17th, we got up at 5am to complete our packing and left for the airport by 9am. Our Delta flight #281 departed an hour behind schedule and landed in Shanghai around 4:30pm Wednesday, local time, which was approximately 1:30am PST on Wednesday.
Yesterday was a lengthy day for Michael as he "sang for his supper," and I accompanied him as his wife. We were grateful to be picked up around 10 am, especially since we didn't get home the night we arrived until after 1 am! Our first stop was a new research institute linked to the university and the hospital, designed to support both basic and clinical research with dedicated buildings for cancer, neurological/mental health, and cardiovascular studies, among others. The complex is stunning and situated on the outskirts of the city. We had lunch there with prominent professors and staff before proceeding to the hospital, where Michael engaged with a group of psychiatry graduate students working with our host, Xiandong Tang. Each student presented a brief PowerPoint on their current research, and Michael offered both encouragement and constructive feedback to help them enhance their projects. By 4:30 pm, it was time for his lecture in front of a packed audience mostly composed of psychiatrists and graduate students. Interestingly, the majority were female, with only a few men present. As always, Michael was brilliant and alert, while I, on the other hand, was clearly feeling the effects of jet lag but pushed through!